An illustration from the Nice chapter, inspired by Johnson's mother on the Promenade des Anglais.
Photo: Virginia Johnson
Travel Through the French Riviera, In Pictures
Artist Virginia Johnson takes you on a personal tour of the storied Mediterranean coastline
Book cover of Travels Through the French Riviera by Virginia Johnson. Photo: Virginia Johnson
If you have your tickets booked to the South of France or just want to get lost in the idea of one day visiting the French Riviera, Virginia Johnson’s Travels Through the French Riviera, an Artist’s Guide to the Storied Coastline, from Menton to Saint-Tropez, is essential.
The French Riviera, the renowned coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, is home to the glamorous Cannes Film Festival, and Grasse, which has been the capital of the perfume industry since the Renaissance period.
A leopard-print rug and furniture from Villa Santo Sospir, designed by Madeleine Castaing. Photo: Virginia Johnson
Unlike your typical travel guide packed with recommendations for hotels to stay in to stay in and popular tourist attractions to visit, Johnson, a Canadian artist and textile designer, reveals the quirky personal perspective on the French Riviera.
You’ll get info on where to find sandals in Saint-Tropez and the workshop where Picasso discovered his love for pottery. You’ll also meet fun characters such as Pierre Gruneberg, the swimming instructor to some of our most beloved cultural icons including Brigitte Bardot and Paul McCartney.
Recommended: Tour a Resplendent French Riviera Home
Johnson is known for her colorful prints on clothing, shawls, and home accessories, all of which have been sold in shops around the world from Barney’s to Liberty London. She has also illustrated a series of books for Kate Spade and Deborah Needleman.
Travels Through the French Riviera is filled with picturesque scenes from the Mediterranean coast, the sun kissed villas of Côte d’Azur and the classic blue-striped sailor shirts. It is perfect gift for a fellow francophile or just about anyone who loves an adventure.
An illustration from the Nice chapter, inspired by Johnson’s mother on the Promenade des Anglais. Photo: Virginia Johnson
The stunning view of Sentier Littoral trail on Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Photo: Virginia Johnson
Johnson’s mother, with a gelato from Amarena. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
The bathroom by Madeleine Castaing. Photo: Virginia Johnson
The courtyard of Villa Santo Sospir. Photo: Virginia Johnson
Cover: An illustration from the Nice chapter, inspired by Johnson's mother on the Promenade des Anglais.
Photo: Virginia Johnson
